Denali has been showing some fear avoidance behavior to people entering the back side of the garage. This is some new behavior, and we will definitely need to work on this as the final weeks of the socialization process are completed. In contrast, Aidan, who was the most fearful of the two pups in June, has now become extremely tolerant of most activity in the wolf yard. In today’s video, you will see Denali howling to the pack.
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Grizzer continues to be obsessed with feeding programs, or at least the anticipation of being fed. In previous summers, the feedings on a hot summer day would result in beaver lying in the sun for several days waiting for wolf care staff to remove them when they become covered with flies. This summer, the wolves are displaying nearly complete consumption of everthing brought into the enclosure, and Grizzer paws at the gate, making the whole wall shake, as well as the webcam. It is the day after the feeding and his stomach is as full and round as a wolf can possibly be.
This weight is a bit subjective to a wiggly pup that just ate 14 ounces of beaver. We think he gained weight, but not likely to have gained 2.4 lbs. This measurement was taken at 7 pm at night, the first time Aidan really settled down for the day, but he was still the "little fiery one". Aidan's logs written by Nanny Theresa Williams; <BR> Aidan has had another food preference change. He now prefers to have Beaver to eat and by the weight gain he has had the last couple of days it shows. He still watches and pays very close attention to everything and everyone around him. During the programs he may be chewing on something but he is definitely paying attention to sound and movement. Several times he has eye stalked people moving in the audience. This morning was very windy and a piece of paper stuck to the outside of the door was moving and it held his attention for a bit along with the crows overhead. The den in the rear of the enclosure is a fun place for both the pups to play and jump in. It has also been a favorite place to sleep over the weekend when it was warmer. The staff are trying new things to try and get the pups to stay on the web cam longer for the viewer. A new ‘fort’ has been put in the wolf yard for the pups to crawl under and it is a great place to cache treats.
Logs written by Nanny Team Leader Steve Lokker. During a 10 – 15 minute period of chase this morning, much of it revolved around the stump in the pup pen. Red Paw displayed a half a dozen "Hip Slams" against Attila. This is a dominance behavior and seems to be some of the first coordinated "Hip Slams" observed. Red Paw pinned Attila and held him against the wall. Red Paw is a calm pup, but when Attila gets to be too active, he uses his body weight to his advantage.
There was an error in the weights yesterday, we changed it in the logs, and will be double checking these before posting. Attila is hard to weigh, as he is more active even when he sleeps. The following was written by Nanny Team Leader – Steve Lokker.<br> It's fascinating to observe the patterns of the way the pups sleep. They seem oblivious to the petting, stroking and conditioning of their ears, paws, and teeth to human handling. The pups sleep soundly and deeply through this physical contact and the familar sounds of the lab doors. But they are instantly awake, alert and on guard if there is a new or strange sound or sudden movement. It's almost as if their hearing and sensory abilities remain on full alert when they are sleeping. This seem particularly true of Attila.
Attila has a varied response to the public programs. If the Exhibit Pack is howling or excessively whining, he goes into the auditorium nervous and tries to climb the wall to get to the ledge and paw at the window toward the Exhibit Pack. During the 1 pm program, the pups were carried in because it was pouring, they were given the deer tail and the soft pad. They spent the whole program stealing the tail from each other and growling/biting each other. Attila chewed on the tail with his back to the audience, showing no fear of anything. Of course, the pack didn’t get up because of the rain, so that probably helped. Attila isn’t as interested in the elk meat as Red Paw, but he will consume it with gruel. Attila is best consuming formula from a bowl. Attila continues to display some dominant predatory behavior. After the 11 am program, the pups were in the wolf yard for about 20 minutes, and Attila stalked Red Paw several times with a full ambush, rolling Red Paw over on his back.
One behavior that we are definitely observing is the guarding, possessive behavior of a dominant wolf. Shadow didn't display this in 2004, likely because there were only 2 wolves in the Exhibit Pack then, Shadow and Malik. With a pair of wolves, there wasn't as much of a need for a dominant pack leader. With the addition of the 2004 litter, Shadow has clearly made it clear that he is in charge of this pack, he is the first to howl, he is defensive about people invading his space and he is the first wolf the pack seeks when there is stress or anxiety.
Red Paw didn't shrink yesterday, he was just a bit too squirmy to measure, we believe we got an accurate measurement today. The most noteable physical development is in their paws and the size of their ears. They are gaining in height on a daily basis, we will attempt to get a height measurement, but their sleep patterns are pretty active during the day and they are waking up easily if we bring out the tape measure. Red Paw continues to be more curious, a Behind the Scenes program last night was another positive experience for the pups. Shadow is also becoming more tolerant of people in the wolf yard. Both pups howled to the pack this morning.
Attila has been observed stalking, ambushing and doing dominant stand-over behavior toward Red Paw. Generally, Red Paw ignores it, but as his photo shows, sometimes a pup has to do what a pup has to do… Attila displays a great deal more predatory behavior, keying into noises, movement and anything out of the ordinary with a low posture stalk. Red Paw attempts to stalk, but he goes down in a crouch, then doesn't move, and Attila ambushes him before he can actually the stalk. Both pups are excited to see the main pack on a daily basis and both pups howled to the pack this morning.
Red Paw is 46 days old today. The following log was written by Team Leader Steve Lokker. "Over a period of nearly a week with the pups, the difference between wolves and dogs becomes readily apparent. One example is the incredible growth rates at this young age. Red Paw's typical half pound per day and nearly an entire pound in the last 24 hours clearly shows that wolf pups develop quickly so they can go from being recipients of to contributors to the pack's drive to survive. And, it's the tools used for survival that are growing the fastest, Red Paw's ears, paws and legs."
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